ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
LEADERSHIP & MINISTRY

Pursue your calling to lead in a church or para-church ministry.

Description:

The Associate of Arts in Leadership and Ministry is for adults involved in or preparing for ministry as a vocation or avocation. Students are challenged to think biblically about all aspects of life, develop spiritually in themselves and others, enhance their ministry skills and engage with the world. The curriculum mixes practical and theoretical knowledge through classroom work, research, and real world experience.

Career Opportunities:

This degree is applicable in any career field, but it is especially designed for church and para-church ministries emphasizing leadership, preaching, teaching and general ministry skills, as well as for students interested in graduate school and seminary training.

Core Classes

Click on a course to view the course description.

Semester 1

GEN 121 - Personal and Bible Study Skills

This course empowers adult learners to make the transition back into education in the college environment. Learners will be introduced to communication, self-motivation, and critical thinking skills necessary for academic success.

Credits: 3

BUS 115 - Introduction to Computers

This course encourages adult learners to use technology as an effective communication avenue to research and present information for life and learning. Learners will gain experience with technology tools, including Microsoft® Word and PowerPoint that can be used throughout the student’s coursework to create documents and presentations and communicate those appropriately to academic and professional audiences.

Credits: 3

GEN 123 - College Writing and Research

This course emphasizes the tasks and skills involved in writing formal essays. The essay writing process is deconstructed into achievable milestones in order to increase writing proficiency. Grammar mechanics will be consistently practiced based on each student’s identified strengths and weaknesses. The course will conclude with an examination of types of writing found in the Bible.

Credits: 3

FIN 105 - Personal & Finance Management

(Previously LEA 271 Financial Stewardship) This course will provide a practical introduction to personal finance management and assist the student in being a good steward of God-given resources. It addresses realistic ways to manage personal assets effectively. Topics include the development of personal financial goals, planning and budgeting; avoiding fraud and swindles; buying, insuring and financing major assets; consumer credit; banking services; investments; insurance; retirement and estate planning; and income tax.

Credits: 3

Semester 2

HUM 133 - Philosophy and Worldview

This course addresses the fact that our culture is confronted with a vast assortment of differing philosophies and worldviews; each claiming to be true. Focus is provided to understand and evaluate these various belief systems in an increasingly pluralistic society. Main ideas of eight different worldviews will be explored while the student develops and expresses a personal worldview. Topics will center around the nature of God, reality, nature of man, death, truth, morality, and the meaning of life. The primary purpose of this course is to challenge students to examine the timeless truths of Christianity.

Credits: 3

SOC 123 - Empowerment Coaching

This course explores the biblical perspective, historical milestones, coaching principles, and conceptual models that define the theory and practice of Empowerment Coaching. Also, the process of learning and practicing best practices for coaching will take place during this course.

Credits: 3

BIB 143 - New Testament Survey

This course is a survey of the background and content of the New Testament with an emphasis on learning to ask questions that will give the student a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. It is designed for students who desire to use the New Testament for the purposes intended by God both in their personal lives and in their teaching. The course is designed from a conservative, evangelical, and dispensational framework.

Credits: 3

HUM 131 - Introduction to Psychology

This course is a general survey of the discipline of psychology. Topics covered will include thinking critically, neuroscience, life span development, sensation and perception, learning, memory, thinking/language/intelligence, personality, psychological disorders, and social psychology. Attention will be given to the relationship between Psychology and Christianity with selected application for life and ministry.

Credits: 3

Semester 3

GEN 221 - Exploring God's World

This course is designed to provide a general overview of environmental science, with an emphasis on sound science, stewardship, and sustainability. Topics include basic concepts of environmental science, relationships between living and nonliving things, human impact upon the environment, and care of earth’s resources to support future generations of living things. Critical thinking skills will be utilized throughout this course, as these skills underlie one’s ability to carefully consider scientific concepts and their effects upon human interactions. The study of environmental science is approached with an understanding of the grave responsibilities of human beings to practice wise stewardship of God’s creation.

Credits: 3

HUM 231 - World Civilizations

This course will provide students with skills in historical research and analysis, a chronological understanding and factual knowledge spanning from the dawn of civilization to 1700. Emphasis is placed on the origins and achievements of the core civilizations of Asia, Africa, America, and Greco-Roman civilizations. In addition, Christian, Islamic and Byzantine cultures will be studied. The ultimate focus will be to provide students with a historical, factual, cultural, and geographical knowledge of ancient history and its relationship to the Bible. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments up to the early modern world civilizations within the interrelations of societies and cultures.

Credits: 3

HUM 233 - Cultural Diversity

This course is an exploration of cultural diversity and multiculturalism from a Christian faith perspective. This course provides a process to understand and practice cultural diversity competence. It is designed to initiate and provide ongoing preparation for effective interaction with everyone in our culturally diverse world. Growth in these skills equips individuals with the social graces needed to form bonds of mutual trust that will bridge the differences that ordinarily divide people.

Credits: 3

SPE 200 - Oral Communication

This course provides instruction and experience in preparing, delivering, and evaluating a self-introduction speech, an informative speech, and a persuasive speech. Emphasis is on gaining skills and confidence in public speaking in academic, workplace, ministry, and community contexts.

Credits: 3

Semester 4

BIB 141 - Old Testament Survey

This course is a survey of Old Testament literature in its historical setting. Attention is given to outstanding persons, events, and theological emphases.

Credits: 3

THE 253 - Fundamentals of Theology

This course surveys the essential ideas of Christian thought and doctrine. Emphasis is placed on the biblical foundations of Christian belief as well as the application of doctrine to the Christian life and worldview.

Credits: 3

THE 256 - Christian Theology I

This course is a survey of foundational doctrines of systematic theology including Bibliology, Theology Proper (God), Christology (Christ) and Pneumatology (Holy Spirit). It will include an overview of the mid-Acts dispensational perspective of theology held by the institution. The course also encourages the practical integration of these doctrines in the life and service of the Christian.

Credits: 3

MIN 163 - Sharing and Defending the Faith

This course will define faith in Christ (the gospel), and will explore ways to share the gospel. Students will consider the various hindrances to the effective communication of the gospel, as well as develop strategies for answering objections to the gospel in a way that points individuals to Jesus Christ.

Credits: 3

Semester 5

MIN 261 - Discipling and Mentoring

This course is a study in discipleship and mentoring focusing on effective discipleship models from the life of Christ and the First Century Church. Those principles will be applied into an effective design for Twenty-First Century disciple-making, with special attention given to the foundations of Christian discipleship and mentoring. This foundation includes modeling Christ-like character and leadership and building healthy relationships for personal accountability paradigms.

Credits: 3

MIN 263 - Teaching the Christian Faith

This course is intended to equip Christian leaders with an understanding of the principles and practices of teaching the Word of God. The course will include biblical perspectives on teaching, as well as practical methods for teaching effectively. The focus will be on teaching the Christian faith, yet learned skills will apply to other fields as well.

Credits: 3

LEA 273 - Issues in Christian Leadership

Issues in Christian Leadership addresses the seminal issues in Christian leadership in both the church and para-church settings, including the foundational issues of each of the five following areas: integrity, communication, leadership development, conflict management and self-care.

Credits: 3

LEA 279 - Leadership and Ministry Capstone

This capstone course is a culmination of various aspects involved in developing an effective leader within a ministry setting. There is a focus on identifying potential leaders and then providing practical methods for training, coaching, and equipping those leaders to reach their full potential. Areas of discussion include integrity, vision-casting, servant-leadership, modeling, as well as current leadership principles utilized in today’s local church. This course provides practical and proven guidelines for any individual involved in ministry who feels called to “equip the saints for ministry.

Credits: 3

Total Credits: 60

What Students Love

Experienced and highly rated faculty

A stimulating academic environment

Cohort groups with an average of 14 students provide maximum interaction and support from instructors

Cohorts meet 100% online in an efficient, accelerated program

Students from a variety of cultures and ministry backgrounds

Admission Requirements:

Admissions Application free to apply

Official Transcripts from all prior colleges where the student wishes to transfer college credits.